HURRICANE HITS ISLANDS

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30973, 1 February 1966, Page 1

HURRICANE HITS ISLANDS

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 31. A hurricane has hit the Tokelau Islands, a New Zealand dependency in the Pacific, but no casualties have been reported.

All three atolls in the group have reported considerable damage and the small population of one islet in the group has been evacuated to Nukunono Atoll. “The administrator of the Tokelaus has advised that a mercy flight might be required to replenish food supplies, and he will report to me as soon as he has assessed the damage and needs of the people,” said the Minister of Island Territories (Mr Hanan). The Minister said that on Fakaofo Atoll the recently completed breakwater had been damaged and possibly destroyed. HOSPITAL DESTROYED

The hospital, the pastor’s house and the main copra shed were destroyed and the people were sheltering in the church from high winds and seas.

On Nukunono Atoll the bridge leading to the small islet of Aiga was destroyed

but the population had been evacuated safely to Nukunono. The main copra shed and some houses were destroyed. On Atafu Atoll a report of “much damage” had been received.

The population had gone into the bush to seek shelter at an abandoned American wireless, station established during the war. STANDING BY

A Royal New Zealand Air Force spokesman said today that an R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland flying boat was standing by in Lauthala Bay, Fiji, to take food and medical supplies to the Tokelaus. The spokesman said that radio contact wtih the Tokelaus had been lost. During the week-end, two R.N.ZIA.F. flying boats at Lauthala Bay were brought into hangers on dry land when it was feared the hurricane would sweep through the Fijian islands. PLANTATIONS RUINED

Banana plantations were devastated, thousands Of breadfruit trees uprooted and many homes damaged or destroyed by a hurricane which passed 40 miles south bf Apia last night. Winds of between 50 and 60 m.p.h. continued for about six hours and peak gusts of

93 m.p.h. were recorded at the Apia observatory at 8 p.m. On hills behind Apia acres of coconut trees snapped. The roof was blown off the historic home of Robert Louis Stevenson at Vailima. There has been no communication with the south coast of the island, where the damage is expected to be greater. Roofs were blown off three buildings in Apia and trees were uprooted but that was the only damage. LINES DOWN Many power and telephone lines and poles were down and it may be two weeks before the electricity supply is back to normal. Meanwhile there is a complete power blackout except for a small town area. . The hurricane’s centre passed close to Pago Pago early this morning and is now moving eastward away from Samoa. There are no reports yet of any casualties. United Press International said the hurricane caused millions of dollars damage in American and Western Samoa.

Radin messages received in Hawaii reported that 11 homes had been destroyed in the village of Aua, American Samoa.

Elsewhere, power was cut, roads were blocked and scores of homes lost their roofs. Schools were closed.

The Acting Governor (Mr James Flannery) declared a state of emergency. Preparations were being made to issue food and other supplies to refugees in a number of villages. Some looting was reported. The hurricane passed over the South Pacific island group yesterday morning and headed north-east across the ocean The same storm dropped 10 inches of rain on Papeete, Tahiti, on Saturday. PLANE RETURNED Fifty-five passengers who set out from Auckland for Pago Pago in an Air New Zealand DCB at 9.30 p.m. on Sunday, returned to Auckland International Airport tonight Their aircraft was held up at Nandi because of the storms over Samoa, and later it was decided to return to Auckland.

Jf possible the passengers will be put on a flight to Pago Pago on Wednesday. Seventy-two passengers who want to travel from Pago Pago to Auckland are waiting at Apia. Air New Zealand also reports delays to other services The DC4 service from Norfolk Island which should have reached Auckland at 7.45 p.m on Sunday arrived at 1.35 p.m. today. Bad weather was responsible.

An Auckland flight to Norfolk Island left today at 3 n.m. instead of at 10.30 p.m the previous day. A fault in the radio of a DCB delaved a flight to Sydney today. A substitute aircraft had to be provided and 58 passengers were delayed almost two hours. Instead of leaving at 445 p.m. the flight left at 6.30 p.m. A Pan American Boeing jet hound from Honolulu to Pago Pago was diverted today to Nandi because of the hurricane.

Fiji Airways regional flights, which were suspended while the tropical : orm was near, were resumed today.